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OP HELL. 







A DREAM OF HELL. 



_t3-BY-e. 

^AK * ORTHODOX + DREAMER.*^ 

v.. ... 

"The paat at least is secure." Wf:BSTER. 

"He went and preached unto the spirits in prison." 

1 Peter 3: 19. 

"Some said, 'John print it;' others said 'Not so:' 
Some said 'It might do good;' others saidjNo.'" 

S'VAN. 




/ 



MAR 25 I88i 



CROWN POINT, IND. 

Printed at the Register Office. 
1886. 



■J^ 



Copyright, 1886, 

By T. H. ball 
A 







'"Tv^^ 



•' For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost. 1 aniinllina 
to hwwtheV?iole truth, to know the icorst ^^^^^^gf^'l^' g'^^^jiy. 



- Of late, as in many a past year and age, no little 

^ attention has been given by earnest and thoughtful 
f minds, in the Christian world, to the great question of 
^^- PEOBATioN AFTER DEATH. Different mlnds have reached 
different results. * To those in this land, who have of late 
examined this question, the author begs leave to dedi- 
cate the following "dream." Not claiming himself to be 
an "advanced thinker," he claims reverently and care- 
fully to study the Scriptures and to take them fully as 
his guide in seeking religious truth; and he hopes he 
may promote to some extent the advance of that truth. 
He is aware that poets, great poets, Virgil, Dante, Mil- 
ton, Pollok, Bickersteth, have presented some grand 
imagery, some startling pictures of existence in the un- 
seen world. Their teachings he has not taken as his 
guide. Their harmony of numbers, their imagery, their 
beauty and .sublimity, he has not proposed to imitate. 
If he might say with Pollok : 

" The ancient page he turned, road much, tliouglit much, 
And with old bards of honorable name 
Mea.sured his soul severely ;" 
he could not add, 

'and looked up 
To fame, ambitious of no second place," 

He could more truthfully add: 

"Ambitious now but little, to be praised 
Of men alone ; ambitious most to be 
Approved of God. the Judge of all ; and have 
.His name recorded in the book of life." 



A DREAM OF HELL. 



Long, even for ages, has the human mind 
Revolved and re-ievolv3d that problem dark, 
The state of those, the final state of those, 
Who leave this world unreconciled to God. 

The Gospel message brings us tidings glad 
Assuring us of love, the pitying love. 
The kind, the patient, ready to forgive, 
The rich free love, of Him, whom we call God, 



6 

The Scriptures teach that Jesus lived and died 

And rose again for man. He tasted death 

For every man; and gave in measure large 

To ra( n, to chosen men, his first true friends, 

Of reconciliation the glad word. 

But all that Gospel have not yet obeyed. 

Some live, some die, to God unreconciled. 

And what will be their state, their fate, their doom, 

And where will be their home, if home can be 

To such as they, while the long endless age 

Rolls on and on? Darkest of all dark thoughts 

To be forever lost! Is such their doom? 

I sought the Scriptures o'er to find one gleam. 

One gleam of hope, one ray of heaven-sent light. 

Too great for me the mighty task. At last 

I dreamed. 

I dreamed that I saw Hell, the dark 
Large Underworld, where dwelt the unforgiven. 
Hear ye ray dream, hear and observe it well. 



FIRST VISION. 

I saw that dark abode, first as a wot Id 
Of spirits; portioned off, from all the reabns 
Of boundless space, by the creative power 
Of Him who all things made, arranged, prepared 
Of old: in which there dwelt thai Serpent old 
Called Satan and rhe Devil, called of lies 
The father; and with him the angels bound, 
Those wdio their fir^^t estate kept not, but left 
Their first bright home, their habitation own. 
And now are demons, to the Judgment Day 
Reserved. And these were in rebellion all. 
Not one of all this mighty rebel host. 
Of all these spirits powerful and proud. 
Loved God. Not one was- willing to obey. 
Obey they did; obeyed because they must; 
Because a power almighty girt them round. 
But where a chance was given they disobey<d. 



8 

Oh what a world! A world of dark, of sad, 

Malignant, wicked, hateful, hating souls! 

And even with th©ir chains I saw them go 

To a fair world called earth, a fair new world, 

And there their lies they told and ruin wrought. 

And then among them soon I saw new souls. 

Souls like and unlike these. Then soon I knew. 

As numbers here increased and many came. 

Came marked with beauty but with blackness too, 

That from the race of man souls had gone down 

To If ell; souls that were gifted, lovely, once. 

But had rejected God, had not received, 

Accepted, nor believed his plan of love. 

And would not through his Son, promised not sent, 

Receive as a free gift eternal life. 

So they came here undone. No love was left 

In any one of these, however grand 

And strong and bright as creatures once, no love 

To God or man. Regret, remorse, and woe ! 



No peace, no bliss, no joy, no hope was here. 
Dark, wretched, horrid, doleful underworld. 
Slowly an age of suffering rolled along. 

But lo ! there came a change. A glorious One, 
A regal, mighty Spirit, passed across 
The gulf by creature never crossed, the gulf 
That lay between Hades and Paradise, 
And soon around him gathered countless throngs. 
To these he preached; told of Messiah's work 
On Earth; of suffering and death and blood; 
Told of a broken and an honored law; 
Of Adam's race on whom ci curse had passed; 
Of Adam's race now by that blood redeemed. 
And then I knew Messiah's self was here, 
Messiah who had passed from Calvary's cross 
To Paradise, and now, while in the rock 
His body slept, had crossed that mighty Gulf, 
To tell the souls of those swept from the earth 
In Noah's time, of God's redeeming love. 



10 

But why that wondrous ytory tell to them? 
Could they repent, and turn again, and live? 
My soul was lost in wonder and in awe. 
Messiah in the "Underworld! His soul 
In Hell! And he was preaching there to souls 
jIn prison! But I was destined soon to see 
In that strange dream, a more amazing sight. 
This glorious One, this regal, mighty soul, 
Messiah, Prince, the Wonderful, the Son, 
The Babe of Bethlehem, the Nazarene 
Who a few hours before on Earth had died, 
Cast one long look, so full of pitying love 
Upon that gathered throng. He spoke no more. 
The living light of God shone forth in Hell, 
Shone from his radiant soul. Again he crossed 
That barrier gulf to enter Paradise, 
And lo! there followed him a mighty band 
Of spirits, dark and sorrowful and sad. 
Where creatures never yet had crossed before. 



11 

A light shone on them and the darkness passed. 
They heard the opening of a welcome song 
From Abel and the patriarchal host, 
And doubt and gloom and hate and sadness passed. 
Love took the place of bate and joy of gloom. 
Amazed I saw them safe in Paradise, 
Saved by the precious blood of Christ the Lamb. 
Sweet joy it seemed to me, and rich, free grace, 
That spirits lost eoukl terms of pardon meet. 
Oh depth unsearchable of God's great love! 
But Satan and the demons and the lost, 
The lost who did not trust Messiah's words, 
Remained in Hell, hateful and hating still. 
More ages passed. Their numbers still increased. 
They came from heathen and from Christian lands 
They came from battle fields of Earth ; they came 
From homes of luxury and ease; they came 
From every clime and race, from every land. 
Emperors and kings and nobles, rich and poor; 



12 

Those who were clothed in purple and in rags; 

Those who had been on Earth renowned, the great, 

The leaders of mankind in peace and war, 

Whose names were heard in many lands, whose praiee 

Had over Earth been borne by mj'riad tongues.— 

And those for whom the great heart of the world 

Ne'er gave one throb, fur whom few ever cared, 

The nameless serfs, the slaves, the low, the vile,— 

Met Oil one level in this sad abode. 

Here were no great, no small, no rich, no poor. 

It mattered nothing here if they had been 

Despised or honered, loved or hated there. 

No love was here, no tears of joy were shed. 

All souls were dark that came within this realm. 

All ranks and all conditions here were found 

Except Earth's "little ones." Of these not one, 

All helpless as they seemed on earth, came here. 

But here were wicked ones, the very vile, 

Who oft had laid their hands on maidens pure 



13 

And robbed them of their honor and their life; 

Those who had taken human life for gold; 

Those who had robbed young helpless childhood oft 

Of all their heritage by parents left, 

And then exposed those plundered ones to want, 

To shame and woe, to woes far worse than death; 

Those who liad made themselves like unto beasts 

And sunk as low as men could sink in shame; 

The murderers, robbers, pirates, lustful men. 

The drunkards and the debauchees of Earth, 

Who gloried in their shame and loved their sin; — 

These all were here. Where else could they have been ? 

And there were also here those whom the world 

Had counted gentle, noble, upright, pure; 

Whose names had been upon Earth's choicest rolls; 

Whose voices had been heard in prayer and praise; 

Who "one thing" lacked; who failed to love thier God; 

Who failed to do his will and love his Son. 

So they were here. Heaven was no home for them. 



14 

With holy angels and the blood washed throng, 
They had not learned to be in fellowship, 
So they were here, shut out from life and love. 
And slowly passed another weary ae:e. 
Remembrances were here, regrets were here, 
Thoughts of a past on Earth, and of a day 
The coming of which day they well might dread. 

But now a sound was heard ne'er heard before 
In Hell. The Judgment Day had come. 
And a great angel with a mighty voice. 
In more than trumpet tones, a summons brought 
To all the human souls in Hell to come 
Oncemore to Earth, their birth -world, where they sinned, 
And where the throne of judgment now was set. 
And in Messiah's name he also bade 
Satan and all his hosts, those angels strong 
Who left their own bright dwelling place, who failed 
To keep their first estate, and in their chains, 
Their everlasting chains, had been reserved 



J5 

To this great day — he bade them all appear 

Near that same throne, the great White Throne of God, 

And there to hearken to the Son of man. 

It was an awful sight on which to look, 
As all those crowded hosts, demons. and souls 
Of human birth, went from the darkness forth. 
Once more into the light of suns and stars; 
For none, not one of all those countless throngs 
Dared disobey the summons. All went forth. 
The Underworld was empty, lone, and still. 

That last assize was long; and, wondering much 
What further use could be for this dark world, 
I seemed to cease to be. 

SECOND VISION. 

When next began 
The visions in my dream, strong angels came 
And hurled that Underworld, that Hades old, 
Severed from Paradise forever more, 



16 

Into a deep abysg, a lake of fire. 

And this seemed well. But terrible it seemed 

When next they cast into this lake, this deep, 

Where Satan was already cast, the raised 

Of Adam's race, wlio at the Judgment Seat 

Had been condemned, found there not having names 

Recorded in the Lamb's bright Book of Life. 

The demon hosts I saw not; but was sure 

Their dwelling place was there; for fearful words 

Recorded in the Book of books, and learned 

In childhood's days came then to mind, the words 

The Son of man, as King, proposed to speak 

On the great judgment day : ''Depart from me 

Ye cursed, into everlasting fire 

Prepared for" Satan "and his angels." Then 

Those aijgel hosts were there. Hell was no more, 

As Hades, as a spirit world, in sight 

Of Paradise. But now that lake was Hell. 

That fiery, deep abyss Gehenna was. 



17 

Or Tartarus, as named on Earth of old. 

The lost were there, away from love and bliss. 

There was the worm that never dies, and there 

The Are that naught can quench. So this was Hell. 

No longer now a world of souls alone, 

But one great prison house, where all the dead 

Unholy, raised to life again, wh-o went 

Obedient to the angel's summons, back 

To Earth for Judgment, in their bodies now, 

Learned what the Scripture meant by those three words 

"The second death." Why did I not awake 

At such a sight? at sight of such a home? 

From such a home, oh God, save me and mine! 

What did they in this world? They did not sing, 

They did not pray. I did not hear them curse. 

They wept, they wailed ; in hopeless agony 

They gnashed their teeth, like those in mortal dread 

But not in rage. They suffered on and on. 

Yes, this was death, not life; the second death I 



18 

Naught else to do but suffer and regret, 

To weep and wail and gnash the teeth in dread. 

But ages more have passed. The countless throngs 
In Heaven, on the New Earth, and dwelling far 
Abroad, in realms of space, on all the bright 
Unfallen worlds, rejoice in perfect bliss. 
They fear no sin to come and mar their joy. 
J They grow in knowledge as they view the works 
And ways of God. Their joys are manifold. 
He who was rich in mercy, he has shown 
The now "exceeding riches of his grace" 
In his great kindness toward the glorified, 
Through Jesus Christ. Unfallen worlds rejoice. 

And now a change is felt in Hell, a change 
That few dared hope could ever reach the lost. 
The just displeasure of their sovereign God 
Had pressed upon them sore, and now they felt 
(Whence the strange feeling came they could not tell. 



19 

It started with a son of Earth and swept 

O'er all the hosts of angels fallen and lost, 

And reached e'en Satan's adamantine heart,) 

They felt their puiiishment ivas just. The worm. 

The undying worm was theirs and their ow^n choice. 

The fire they knew was God's that girt them round; 

And in that quenchless flame, and with that worm. 

They felt they ought to dwell forevermore. 

And in a moment then it seemed as though 

The fire had ceased to burn, the worm to gnaw, 

Most bitterly they then abhorred their sin. 

A change it was indeed for Hell, where sin, 

Where love of sin had ever reigned. No one 

In that abode, till then, had hated sin. 

In Satan's soul such fet:ding had not been 

Since first within himself he dared disdain 

The holy law of God. The pent up tide 

Of mem'ries of the early age, the thoughts 

That he, a liar from the world's first days, 



20 

Of lies the father, and of God and man 

The foe, striving with bitter hate to mar 

Messiah's work in saving ruined man — 

That he had oiicebeen liohj, once loved God, 

Gushed forth in words, words new and strange in Hell. 

"Alas! that I have sinned, sinned against God! 

Through all these ages long have only sinued! 

Each deed, each thought of mine was sin, black sin! 

How I have hated God, and hated man. 

Holy and ruined and then ransomed man! 

'Tvvas I that ruined man; 'twas I that led 

Angelic hosts to turn away from God. 

Naught but this fearful fire do I deserve 

Forevermore. Yet pity me oh God." 

Yes, Satan's adamantine heart was full 

With an emotion deep, before unknown. 

At length, from his stern, mocking lips of scorn, 

Now tremulous Avith sense of guilt and woe. 

Came forth one shout, "Praise God, Praise God the Lord." 



21 

And "FalleluJHli!" next they heard him shout. 

All ! .^tani more and "Hallelujah" burst 

As with one voice from all the throngs in Hell. 

And there was uttered then the thrilling words 

"Rejoice! for God the Lord, omnipotent, 

Jehovah, reigneth. Blessed be his name." 

Just then beside me for an instant staid 

An angel, on his long, swift flight, then bound 

To a far distant world of light and love. 

He heard that now, strange sound, and swiftly passed 

Back to that world, New Earth, the kingly seat 

Of the Messiah's glorious reign, who now 

On David's throne held everlasting power. 

And spread the tidings there. Then to the throne 

Of God, who now \<'as "all in all," he sped. 

And told that homage to the Lord was heard 

Proceeding heavenward from the burning Lake. 

Earth's millions and the dwellers round the Throne 

Were thrilled with wonder. In amaze they asked, 



22 

What will God do? And none could answer give. 

And now such deep, such thrilling, dread suspense, 

An angel to me whispered, never was 

Before in Heaven or Earth or Hell. None knew 

And none could tell what God would do. Few thought 

That Satan ever would relent, or could 

Repent. Few thought the lost could cease to sin. 

What would God do? Oh, there were those in Hell 

Who had been loved, so deeply loved on Earth; 

Wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, parents, friends; 

At death they parted; at the judgment seat 

Of Christ they parted last, long ages back; 

And could they meet again? Oh what suspense? 

What would God do? No wonder hearts were stirred. 

In Heaven one hour was silence, so he said. 

That angel now again to me returned. 

And toward the throne and Earth with keenest look 

We gazed, with almost bursting hearts. "They come ! 

They come!" the angel cried. And soon I saw 



23 

The glittering hosts from Heaven and Earth unite 

And form one band, led by Messiah, King. 

They reached the entrance to the fleiy Lake. 

Satan came forth, and to the Son of God 

Did homage. Forth his legions came; the lost, 

The lost who had gone down in every age 

Of Earth's probation, on whose horrid forms 

Suffering intense had wrought its impress dire; 

These all for the first time bowed low and praised 

The Son of God. And then a wail was heard, 

One cry from countless throngs imploring love, 

Imploring pitying and forgiving love. 

That cry went up to Heaven, ^o the Throne, 

Went to the ear and to the heart of God. 

He pitied. He forgave. His mercy came 

Like gentle dew, like snow flakes, on them all. 

Then such a rush of the long parted ones, 

As love and light and beauty, all at once. 

Transformed, transfigured all these hosts from Hell, 



24 

Was never heard or seen before. Old love, 

Long quenched and dead, burst forth anew; old love, 

The earliest loves of Earth, once fall of joy, 

And then at death's dark hour crushed down in bruised, 

And bleeding, oft in broken hearts. New love 

Illumined soul and body now of those 

For ages lost, for ages doomed to death. 

Is it a wonder that in glad embrace 

Millions and millions met? They wept for joy. 

An overflowing joy was in the heart 

Even of the Son of God, Earth's King and Lord. 

He had wept tears of anguish on the Mount 

Over against Jerusalem, and said, 

In tones of sadness, of the wicked Jews, 

I would have gathered you, but ye would not. 

And in the Garden, in the olive shade. 

Upon the Mount of Olives, he had bowed 

In anguish sore for man. His bloody sweat, 

His prayers in agony of soul, his death 



25 

Upon the cross, all toid i)ow he had love(i 
Mankind. But he had said to these lost ones, 
When on his judgment throne, "Depart," Depart 
Now they were asking love, his own rich love, 
And joy, a wondrous joy was in his heart. 
He spake the words, "Come to my own New Earth. 
And as that countless, re-united host, 
Leaving all tenautless the burning Lake, 
With its most fearful, everlasting Are, 
Proceeded onward to thntlioly vvorld, 
That seat of endless bliss, thrilling with joy 
I woke. I woke, and lo I it loas a dream. 

THE MEDITATION AND APPLICATION, 

But ivas this all a dreamt a dream of day? 
Is there in all the unrevealed events, 
In the great universe, no ray of hope 
That Satan and his hosts and all the lost 
Can e'er relent? can e'er repent and live? 



26 

Cannot, an Ethiopian change his skin? 

Cannot a leopard semetime change his spots? 

Can those who long have only evil done, 

Cease all at once from bad and do the right? 

What is there needed but a will to turn? 

Creatures have turned, by their own selves impelled, 

From good to l)ad. from doing right to wrong. 

Why not, by their own selves inpelled, come back 

From bad to good? from wrong to right and love? 

Must such a thoui^ht be ev<^r but a dr^am? 

Would it were true! Would that it might be true! 

How full of thrilling joy the thought that sin 

May cease forever, sin and suffering too, 

And that, of all the creatures God has made, 

Not one at last would fail to share his love. 

A universe of holy, happy ones 

To pass the endless years at peace with God 

Oh glorious ending of redemption's work ! 

Oh glorious hope, to fill an angel's soul! 



27 

But can it ever be? Ttue, God is love. 
In mercy he is rich. None ever re^jched 
Th^^ depth of his forgiving, pitying love. 
But Jiow could God forgive the rebel hosts 
Of angels? Hoiv forgive the lost of Ea(th? 
The Scriptur^ s tf-ach, when he forgives and save- 
With all the yearning love of his full heart, 
There must be found for such a Substitute 
Without blood shedding man was not forgiven. 
For whom did Jesus die? For angels? No. 
For man. For sinful, lost, and ruined man. 
And man must, unto God.be reconciled 
Man must, through Christ, be reconciled to God. 
The lost would not be reconciled on earth. 
How can they be in Hell ? Will suffering teach ? 
Yea. teach it may, but can it soften hearts? 
Can Satan ever turn? ever repent? 
Can that malignant spirit cease to hate ? 
Can Satan and his legions ever bow 



28 

In homage glad before the Son of God? 

Would God forgive them if they should ? Could God 

Forgive them if they would? How can they turn? 

But why should not the hardest hearts, at last, 

Grow sick of suffering and of sin? those two 

Which God has joined together, joined so close 

That no created soul can ever part. 

Why not grow sick, and cease to sin and hate? 

Why not grow sick, and turn to love and God? 

Oh Reason, erring weak, what does thou know? 
Why? or W^hy not? Can? or Cannot? 'Tis vain. 
All vain to ask. No answer comes to man 
From that great Underworld hereafter. No. 
Bow down thyself, oh Reason, bow and search 
The Scriptures. Hear what Jesus says, himself 
The Way, the Truth, the Life : Cometh no man 
Unto, the Father but by me. "By me." 
Hear these plain words. And hear him also say: 

I GIVE ETERNAL LIFE UUtO MY SHEEP. 



l- 



29 

When they are folded all and gathered in, 
And death, the Second Death, begins his reign, 
What ground to hope that reign will ever cease? 
Where, in the Scripture, is one ray of hope ? 
Were it God's will, would it might sometime be. 
No hope? The Bible teachings give no hope. 
My.dream, with all its truth, is but a dream. 
Friend, stranger, haste; be reconciled to God; 
For God hath made him to be sin for us 
Who In himself knew never any sin. 
That we the righteousness of God in him 
Might all be made. Trust not the dreams of men. 
Trust not the words, the speculations wild 
Of men, the great or learned, of doctors skilled 
In theologic lore— dreams are they all — 
Trust not one hour to any one of these. 
That any glorious change shall come to thee, 
Or to the lost, to Satan and his host, 
When once the awful billows round the roll, 



80 

Of that great fiery Lake. Keep out of Bell. 
The Christ of God has said that God lias power, 
And he will use it, to destroy in Hell 
Body and soul. Haste, then, and unto him 
Be reconciled. Once more, as in Christ's stead, 
I pray thee, be thou reconciled to God. 
Beware the horrors of the Underworld. 
Probation is for all mankind on Earth. ^ 
Kun not the fearful risk to place thyself 
Outside of hope on Earth. The loves of Earth 
Must die. For at the judgment seat of Christ 
Partings take place forever. For the lost 
We might in anguish weep with tears of blood 
Here, in this world, and now. The Saviour wept. 
But neither tears and groans, nor prayers avail 
To bring a wayward, sinful soul to Christ. 
The drawing of the Father, that we need, 
And without that no soul will come to him. 

Will man accept the proffered love of God? 



31 

Or will he turn away in causeless hate. 

And ti ample under foot the Son of God, 

Counting his blood as an unholy thing. 

xind despite to the gracious Spirit do? 

Of punishment sucli must deserving be, 

Of punishment most sore, because they spurn, 

Even in their guilt and sins and shame and woe, 

The most amazing love that God coujld show, 

Refusing to accept his terms of grace. 

Can they without his pardoning love find peace? 

If Jesus' death for them does not avail, 

They must forever dwell shut up in Hell. 

It must be terrible to live and die 
And not accept the sacrifice of Christ. 
That won Irons death upon the cross expressed 
The measure of the Father's love for man. 
The object was to win back man to God, 
To clear a way that love might flow to man. 

Then rest thou not in any joy of Earth, 



32 

Rest not in any toil or care of Earth, 

Until thou knowest thy name to be inscribed 

Within the Lamb's own book of endless life. 

And unto God, and unto Christ his Son, 
And to the Spirit holy, praise shall be, 
Dominion, honor, glory, power, and love, 
Both now and evermore. Amen, Amen. 

Hope. 
My home, January 24, 1884. 



